Band line-up for Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail announced
Organisers of the Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail today (Monday 9th July, 2007) announced the line-up of the official Ceilidh Trail Band at British Waterways (Scotland) Seaport Marina in the Inverness Muirtown Basin.
The full band line up includes five highly talented young musicians combining forces with an established professional. Lead musician David Bowen of Inverness plays accordion, and trainee lead musician Ross Anderson from Midlothian plays percussion. Inverness student Rachel Campbell is on fiddle and highland dancing, while, student Anne Nicol from Aberdeenshire sings Scots song and plays fiddle. Cameron Kellow from Kinross plays accordion and drums and new team member Alasdair Taylor, from Inverness pays guitar and mandolin.
The band’s first performance will be held at Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness on Monday 16th July at the "Grand Opening Ceilidh" from 7.30-10pm.
Now in its 6th year the organisers of the Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail are confident that the musical line up and venues on offer will appeal not only to locals but will also pull in many visitors to the area during the tourism season.
Organised by The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Service in partnership with British Waterways Scotland, the Ceilidh Trail has been made possible with funding from British Waterways Scotland, Highland Council’s Aird and Loch Ness Ward discretionary budget, Inverness Common Good Fund and TMC Folk through Highland 2007.
The Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail runs from Monday 16th July till Friday 10th August, 2007 with 47 ceilidhs at over 20 venues along the canal including on boats, in hotels, in the open air, at cafes, day care centres, historic sites and at Tulloch Inverness Highland Games on Saturday 21st July (1-5pm) in the Traditional Music Tent.
The aim of the Ceilidh Trail is to encourage the development and appreciation of traditional music while supporting the visitor and tourism trade along the route of the Caledonian Canal.
The ceilidhs are a mixture of performances by the Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail Band and also informal sessions where anyone can bring their own instrument and join in – these distinctions are indicated on the Ceilidh Trail programme.
Councillor Roderick Balfour, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee said: "It is encouraging to see the Council and its partners British Waterways Scotland embarking again on this quality cultural event which connects with the feisean movement throughout the Highlands. It is especially appriopriate that the Ceilidh Trail adds to the Highland 2007 programme this year.”
Russell Thomson, British Waterways Scotland, Manager Highland Canals said: “British Waterways Scotland are delighted to support the 6th year of the Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail and hope that many of our boaters and people in canal-side communities will come along to these toe-tapping music sessions.”
The Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail is part of a network of Ceilidh Trails throughout the Highlands others including Fèis Rois in Easter Ross from 16th July – 14th August; Fèis Chataibh Golspie from 18th July – 2nd August; Fèis Lochabair Fort William from 3rd – 29th July; Fèis an Earraich Sleat on the Isle of Skye from 9th – 28th July; and Cairngorms Ceilidh from 6th – 22nd July.
Admission to events on the Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail is free with the exception of the Grand Opening Ceilidh and other perfomances marked on the Ceilidh Trail programme.
Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail programmes are available from Council Services Points and tickets for the Grand Opening Ceilidh are available online at www.thebooth.co.uk or from The Highland Council’s Community Learning and Leisure Service at Inverness Town House or by telephoning: 01463 724314.